Page 186 - Bonhams Chinese Art NYC Nov 9 2017

120 TP Y
A RARE PAIR OF HUANGUALI DEMI-LUNE
TRIPLE-TOP GEORGIAN-STYLE GAMING
TABLES
Circa 1730-1740
Each with hinged circular triple-tops lined with green
baize when fully opened within carved foliate scroll
border interspersed between four oval counter cups,
the frieze carved with further foliate scrolls above
cylindrical tapering legs terminating with animal-
mask feet.
Each 84cm (in) wide x 81.5cm (in) deep x 71cm (in)
high. (2).
(detail)
£20,000 - 30,000
CNY180,000 - 270,000

約1730至1740年 黃花梨蔓草紋半月桌

Provenance (one of the two): In the 19th century
Sir James Gibson-Craig of Riccarton (1765-1850)
gave the table to the Hon. Mrs Hay Mackenzie of
Cromartie (1829-1888), and thence by descent.
In 1934, a descendant of the family entered the
Colonial Service and the table was sent to South
Africa and eventually Botswana (then known as
Bechuanaland) where it was said to have been
used in 1965 to sign the documents leading to that
country’s independence.

來源： 此桌製於十八世紀中國，用於外銷英國。
十九世紀James Gibson-Craig of Riccarton爵士
(1765-1850)將此桌贈予Hon. Mrs Hay Mackenzie of
Cromartie (1829-1888)，並由後人保存。1934年，
家族後人於殖民地部供職，並將此桌帶至南非以及
博茨瓦纳（時稱貝專納），據傳用於1965年該國獨
立宣言簽字儀式。

The present lot is an exceptional example of
Chinese-Western cultural encounters and would
have been specially commissioned according to a
western design, probably English, to be made in
China. It is interesting to note the Chinese influence
demonstrated in the mythical-beast heads carved
on the pads.

A similar huanghuali triple-top gaming table in Georgian
style, 1730-1740, is illustrated by C.L.Crossman, The
Decorative Arts of the China Trade, Woodbridge, 1991,
p.236, pl.87, who describes the table as superb; a
related example is at Saltram House, Devon, collection
of Richard Milhender, but with a mother-of-pearl inlay
on the frieze and lacking the mythical-beast carving on
the feet.

Compare with a related huanghuali ‘George II’
games table, 18th century, which was sold at
Sotheby’s New York, 19-20 March 2013, lot 298.

The present lot, open and folded

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
184 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.